DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except the plot for this story and some really cool yellow nail-polish, which just so happens to be called "lightening"... kinda has me wishing it would storm. [I have no AC in my house right now, so a nice rain would cool off the air some... just FYI].

A/N: Okay everyone, this is my first fan-fiction I've written knowing that other are going to read it. The one other time I've tried my hand at writing was what I suppose could be called amateur fan-fiction way back in 1998-ish [I was 14] - It was about Hanson [ya know, the "MmmBop" kids?]. Enough said. This is infinitely better [at least I hope it is]. Big thanks to my beta, the wonderful Megsly, without whom I'd never have gotten up the nerve to publish this. xoxo. Make sure you check out her AMAZING stories, 'Through Your Eyes' & 'Horizons'. Also, to my best friend Alex who lends another set of eyes to this before you see the finished product - love you!

And just so you all know, I'm hoping to update at least once a week [more than likely on Monday nights, but no promises]. My life is fairly uneventful, and writing seems to be the cure-all for my boredom.

Prologue

Unknown Female POV

The years I spent with him would have seemed like a lifetime for most.. For me, it flew by; because, what's a few years when you have eternity?

But I didn't have eternity. Real life got in the way and took away my life, my love, my... him. Even thinking his name tears me apart still.

In some sick twist of fate, he was taken from me and I was powerless to stop it. At the most crucial of times, I wasn't there for him. Some new force descended upon us on that fateful day and left our family broken.

I failed him.

I failed me.

I failed all of us.

Where the years I spent with him flew by, the months I spent alone after him went on infinitely. One sleepless day without him seemed like a lifetime.

If it had been just me, I would probably have never lasted this long; I would have followed immediately in his footsteps. But, there were others whose happiness had been crushed on that fateful day; and, as much as I wanted to go with him, I couldn't bring myself to cause more tragedy to a family already suffering so much. So, I chose to suffer in their place.

But in the midst of my own personal hell, a relationship was forged with the one individual who had lost as much, if not more, than I had. Through our grief, we came together in friendship. It wasn't until it was right on top of us that we realized that somewhere along the way, the line of friendship had been crossed and we were headed into a familiar, yet completely unknown territory.

We've been in this limbo, a force pulling us back and forth between friendship and more, for months now. Not quite sure how, or if, we should progress. We both are aware that the line has been crossed, but we never talk about it. It's always the elephant in the room.

One tragic day changed both our lives forever and neither of us know quite how to move past it. He is not him and I am not her. We are inexplicably tied to each other now, whether we want to be or not; but the capacity in which we are tied is entirely up to us. Would either of us be willing to spend eternity... no, I'll never use that word again... the time we have left, being second to those we lost?

A pair of strong arms latched around me and I was jolted from my thoughts. I turned, staring into his black eyes. It was painfully evident that he needed to hunt, but we would both put it off as long as possible. We very seldom left the house anymore.

"I know what you're thinking about, and I think it's time we talk about it." He reached his hand up and cupped my cheek. I let myself lean into it, taking in his scent.

I knew that it was time to face what was going on. It had to be done sooner or later. I just wasn't expecting it to be tonight – the anniversary of that day.

"This is the best time to do this." He said, looking off into the distance. "They would have wanted us to move on and find happiness again."

He looked back down at me and I tore my gaze from his. "I can never be what she was to you. Just as you'll never replace him." His fingers gently lifted my head up, forcing me to look into those eyes.

This time it wasn't hunger I saw reflected back at me.

"No, we'll never replace them for each other. We can never forget them; they will always be part of us. But please..." He wrapped his hand behind my neck, twining my hair between his fingers, "give us a chance to truly heal each other."

Before I could even formulate a response, his lips were on mine; I knew in that moment that whether I wanted it to or not, things would never be the same.

Unknown Male POV

I still can't believe she is gone. The years spent in her company, suddenly gone. The love for her that poured from my soul was still there, but with no one to reciprocate it.

In my darkest hours, I contemplated ending it all. After all, what was life without her in it?

I knew what everyone in my family was feeling; every time they looked at me I could see the pity reflected back at me. At times it was unbearable, and that's what drove me into seclusion for the first few months after "the incident", as it had come to be referred to.

Ultimately, I came back to my family; I owed them so much and the need for companionship and support was immense. Support came from my family, companionship came from her.

Looking back on it now, I realize how selfish I had been to run away when there was one other person who was suffering just as much I was, if not more. It wasn't until a few months after my return to the family that the bonds of sister and brother became those of close friends, sharing a mutual grief.

The first few months were the hardest. We saw our loses reflected in the relationships of those around us, and eventually we both began to seclude ourselves. The family understood and gave use our space, truly making us the only thing holding each other up when our grief threatened to tear us down.

Over time, the feelings I had for her began to change from those of companionship, to close friend, to... well, I'm not sure what, but things were definitely moving beyond platonic. I fought against it, feeling as if I were betraying her.

Every time I looked into her eyes, I saw confusion and doubt reflected back at me along with the constant grief – she felt it too and was just as conflicted as I was. I knew that she would never be the one to begin the discussion we ultimately had to have, so I spent days antagonizing over what I was going to say to her, putting off the inevitable for as long as possible.

~*~

The day I planned to talk to her, I went to hunt. Returning several hours later, having never actually gotten to the hunt, I went to find her. I knew what had to be done.

She stood in his and her room, looking out the windows, her body a silhouette against the bright moonlight. I sucked in an unnecessary breath of air and enveloped her in a tight embrace. She turned to face me, her black eyes reflecting everything I'm sure mine did.

I brought my hand to her face and let her know that this talk had to happen. She briefly allowed herself to lean into my hand and I caught a hint of betrayal in them before they darted to the floor. "This is the best time to do this," I told her. The anniversary of losing them was bittersweet: I felt the lose of her tenfold today, but ultimately knew it was time to move on, and I let her know that.

"I can never be what she was to you. Just as you'll never replace him." She looked away again, and I couldn't have that. I knew that this wasn't going to be easy for either of us, but I knew she would resist things until the end of time if I let her. So, lifting her face gently, I continued.

I let her know that neither of us would replace the one's we lost, but begged her with everything in me to let us be what the other needed; and right now, we needed something... someone... to bring us back from the pits of despair. We could be that for each other.

Seeing the resistance in her eyes, I knew that unless I did something drastic we would be stuck in this grief-induced funk forever. So I did the only thing I could think of... I kissed her and poured everything I felt, grief, hope, despair, love into it. But not betrayal, because if there was one thing I was sure of it was that she would have wanted this for us.

A/N: What can I say? I love suspense! :) I promise in due time the identifies of our mystery people will be revealed. I'm sure that you have your theories. Throw 'em my way, but all I'm gonna say is that anything is possible.

*Also, please note the distinction between the italicized and non-italicized he/she. The italicized variant are the male/female who were lost; the un-italicized are the male/female who are narrating.